David beuce



UNITED STATES PATENT' @Erica I MACHINE FOR CASTING PRINTING-TYPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 632, dated March 17, 1838.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID BRUCE, Jr., of Burlington county, State of New Jersey, have devised, constructed, and fully tested a new Machine for Casting Printers Types, by which the labor of the workman is much abridged and the rapidity of the operation of casting much increased.

To properly understand the various parts ofy the following described machine it seems necessary to state the vgeneral principles upon which it operates and some of its principal movements. The various parts of the machine are attached to a flat plate of cast-iron, which liesvhorizontally and serves the`purposes of a tabletop and foundation for the machine. Upon this fiat plate is secured asmall furnace and kettle, for the purpose of melting typemetal. This kettle contains a small forcingpump, from which arises an viron pipe up to the edge of the kettle at an angle of about fortyfive degrees. The mold is attached to the end of a lever, which lever is hinged at its otherrend to an iron frame, whose upper surface slopes at an angle of about forty-tive degrees. To the oblique surface of this iron frame the mold-lever is hinged, so that the mold rises and descends upon the end of the pipe and in a line with the edge of the kettle at an angle of about forty-five degrees. This 4lever, with its mold, (mouth downward,) by

halt' a revolution of the crank-shaft, is broughtV down to fit the end of the pipe of the pump,

in which position it remains longenough to p receive a discharge of metal by a descent of the pump-piston. By completing a revolution of the crankshaft thelever and mold are raised. In raising the lever the mold is opened by means of a rod attached to one half of the mold, which at the same time loosens the type just cast, which drops out and slides into a box or paper placed to receive it. Thus, by means of a continuous motion o f the crankshaft, the mold is closed, brought in contact with the face of the pipe, a type is cast by a descentof the piston forceddown by a spring, the mold is raised and opened, and the type is made to drop out. The rapidity with which type can be cast by this process depends much upon the skill of the workman, the accuracy of the machine, and the size of the type to be cast.

Having given a brief outline of its principles of action, I shall next direct attention to a perspective drawing of the machine marked Figure l. In thisy ViewY may be seen the arrangement of most of its parts, and such parts as are not apparent in this will be referred to in other drawings.

Ais whatIcallt-he bed-plate.7 Itis ofcaste iron about twenty-two inches square, to which is secured various parts of the machine. The bed-plate is cast with two holes in it, one over which the furnace B is placed. The other is for the action of a revolving double cam. To the under side of the bed-plate is attached shaft F by iron boxes. On one end of the shaft may be seen the crank, and on the opposite end the fly-wheel. Upon the side opposite the furnace may be seen the oblique frame G. This frame supports the axis of the mold-arm, hereinafter to be described. To the upper surface of the frame, Fig. 2, maybe seen secured plate a a, which Idenominate the axis-plate# and it contains at each end the axis or pivots upon which the mold-arm H works. This plate a a is secured to the frame 'G by two screws, b b, which pass through slotted or elongated holes near each end. These elongated holes are for the purpose of adjusting the mold in any required position over the end ofthe pipe P.

I shall next describe the furnace and kettle .W. The furnace B may be in form square, but I have chosen toV make it largest at its upper edge to favor the molding of it when cast. It is secured to the bed-plate A by brackets or flanges cast upon it. Its door is on the same side over the shaft-F, and the flue e of the furnace passes up on the side ofthe door; The kettle is firmly secured to the upper edge of the furnace B byscrews passing through its flange. Fig. 4 is asectional view of the kettle, showing its internal parts. I have' chosen the inverted pyramidal form of the kettle as well adapted to let the flame play freely round it lower surface. ,f Y y R represents the pump-chamber and the iron pipe T, inserted into its socketat` an angle of about forty-five degrees, and in sucha position that its bore will enter the pumpchamber B lnear its bottom. The objectV of this pipe is to form a communication betweenthe pump-chamber and the mold. To do this more effectually, upon the upper end of the pipe is placed a hollow cylinder, P, with its upper end perfectly at and closed, excepting a small hole perforated through its center, which forms a connection and lines with the bore of the pipe T. The pipe is about half an inch in diameter and of equal thickness from the socket to the end, and the end of the pipe may be iiat. The cylinder P should be bored to t the pipe T rather loosely. It is not thought essential that there should be an air-tight fit between the inside of the cylinder P and the pipe T. On the contrary, a slight` opening between the two favors the escape of air which is in the cavity of the pipe, which would, were it perfectly tight, be thrown into the mold. To favor the escape of air more perfectly, two small grooves are cut across the end of the pipe T at right angles with each other, which are intended as air-gates; but their size must not be so large as to weaken naturally the force of the pump. This hollow cylinder P is kept from being drawn olf the pipe by a screw passed through' its side, whose point enters a groove turned in the pipe T. The pumpchamber Ris fitted with a cast-iron piston. The piston ff must be rather a loose h't than otherwise. Ithas a puppet-valve, e, whose seat is in the lower side of the piston, with its stem passing upward through it. The tendency of this valve (it being iron) is to float upward and fit its seat in the bottom of the piston, the specific weight of iron being less than that of iiuid type-metal. The size ot' the pumpchamber R may be three quarters of an inch in diameter, the same in height, and the passage through the valveway a quarter of an inch; but these proportions must be varied according to the size of the type intended to be cast.

I will next proceed to describe the luoldarm H, with its different movements. Fig. 2 shows the machine without the arm. In'this view the observer will readily notice the angle at which the arm is attached by observing the Obliquity of the axis-plate a a upon the edge of the oblique frame G, before described. This angle is about forty-five degrees, and consequently the mold must rise and fall upon the end of the pipe P at the same angle.

Figs. 7 and 8 are drawings of the arm in two different positions.

Fig. 7 represents the mold as closed, as it would be when resting upon the end of the pipe P, ready to receive a cast. In this position may be seen the rod X, leading from its axis in the upright stud Y and with its other end ernbracing the movable half of the mold and grasping it firmly against the fixed half.

Z represents what I denominate the matrix-rod.77 This rod has its axis also upon the stud Y. The other end is formed into a wedge for the purpose of tilting the matrix by passing under the lever B B. The matrix-lever B B has its center of motion about midway its length, so that when one end is lifted by the matrix-rod Z passing under it, the other end, with its adjusting-screw, tilts the matrix by pressing down uponthe end of it, thus re` leasing the matrix from the cast, which is at liberty to be discharged from the mold.

Fig. 8 represents a profile view of the arm H raised its full height. 1 It will be seen that elevating the arm to this position has changed the angle of the centers of both the rods X and Z, which has had the effect, as here shown, ofv opening the mold and tilting the matrix. The

matrix-rod Z is here seen passed under the lever. shall now give a description of the mold and how it is attached to the arm H. There is but little difference in the construction of the mold used on this machine from that used in the. hand process of casting, and this consists more in the disuse of some of its parts than any deviation from its principles of construction. mouths, cap, hooks, woods, and levers for tilting the matrix is dispensed with. The proportions of the jets may be something loss than those of hand-molds. The back plates are about double the usual thickness and should extend about one-third of an inch beyond each end of the slides or carriages to admit ofscrews for the purpose of attaching it to the machine. All the screws in the back plate are countersunk, so that the back plates may be screwed at against the end of the arm H and the movable plate t', hereinafter to be described. The spring j is attached to the arm H in such a Way that its position over the mold does not vary much from the common form. V V show the position of the mold when thrown open by the rod X, exhibiting the axis of the moldhinge lr, the moving plate z', with its cylindrical slide y passing at right angles through the hinge k, and the thumb-screw for securing it in any required position. The purpose of this cylindrical slide y is to adjust the half of the mold o 'v thereunto attached to the various breadths of matrices intended to be cast. Fig. 6 shows av face view of the mold 'u v, one half of which is attached to the end of the arm H by screws seen 'in the back plate. The other half in like manner is attached to the movable plate z', with its cylindrical slide y. This mov able plate contains a socket, n, upon its outer side for the end of the opening-rod X. The mold-hinge 7c may also be seen with its aperture for the cylindrical slide y, and the crosspiece o for the ends of its axis.

The mold-hinge 7c is susceptible of expansion and contraction for the purpose of adjusting the two parts of the mold c v, and for the purpose of adjusting other sized molds to the arm,

' if necessary. The middle section, p, containing the aperture for the cylindrical slide yhas a broad fiat groove at each end to admit the arms q q. These arms are truly iitted to the grooves and are secured in them by one screw each. The holes through which the screws pass are elongated in the arms about half an inch, and permit the arms that much extension or contraction. The arms are flat bars of iron or steel of proper length and truly adjusted to fill the grooves before mentioned.

In these molds the brass The other end of the arms contain the points or aXis r r, on which the hinge 7c, when properly adjusted, acts. The expansive property of the hinge may be accomplished also in the following way: The arms ofthe hinge may be turned cylindrical and fitted into corresponding holes in the ends of the middle section,` p, as before described, and they may be held in their places by a screw passing through each end ofthe middle section, p, and bearing'upon them.

I will proceed to describe'the manner in which the arms H and the mold are brought down and raised from the end of the'pipe P of the pump.

Lever marked C, Fig. 2, passes' obliquely through the bedplate at an angle of about forty-five degrees. The lower'end of this lever has its center of motion under the bedplate A and attached to a part of the stand of remainder or other end may be a wide-pro-v portioned ovaling continuation. Upon the semicircular end ofthe cam D is attached what I denominate a wheel cam, S-that is, a wheel wanting one-half'its periphery. (See Fig. 3.) Cam D, in performing a revolution with the shaft F, alternately raises and lowers the oblique lever C and the mold-arm H, attached by the rod I. Bar marked E is for the purpose of raising and depressing therpnmppiston L, which is attached to the end of the bar overhanging the kettle w. rlhe other end ofthe bar has its center of motion on the oblique frame G. Near the end of this bar, to which the piston is attached, is an eye, through 'which the upright stud u passes. The lower end of this stud is rml y attached to the kettle, and serves the double purpose of a steadinient to this end of the bar, while its upper end serves as a barrel for the spiral spring, ZZ, which spring is made to exert any requisite force upon the bar and piston by a thumb-nut screwed upon the upper end ofthe stud a. This puinpbar Eis connected byrod M, Fig. 2,with the horizontal lever N, which latter lever has I its center of motion near the edge of the bedplate A, and is'at right angles with the lineofV the shaft F. One end of this lever rests upon the wheel-cam s, before described as connected with and revolving with the ovaling-cam D. This semicircular cam s is so adjusted with cam D that when cam D has lowered the mold down upon the spout P of the pump the wheelcam s, revolving with it the termination of its periphery, passes from under the lever N, which instantly descends with the bar and piston, being pressed strongly down by the spring Z Z, before described.

The vmanner of discharging the type from he mold is upon the same principle as that of hand-casting-that is, the type is made to adhere to the moving side of the moldV from which it is loosened by the shank Aof the face being drawn against the stool upon the fixed side of the mold, which generally disengages it from the moldV and allows it to fall away from it. To render the discharge more certain, as it sometimes will hang in the jet even when disengaged at the face, I attach -to the fixed side ot' the mold a piece otmetal ofthe thickness of common saw-blade, in form the two sides of a square or rectangle which I denominate the discharger a. One ofitslimbs is secured to the edge of the back plate, and reaches from thence across the jets ofthe mold when closed as far over as the edge of the op-y posite back plate. From thence the other limb commences and takes a direction downward along the jets and parallel to the back plate, andreaches as far down as the aperture of the jet. It will be observed that this discharger must be so placed as to be clear of the pipe P of the pump when the mold is down thereon. The eii'ect of this discharger is the same as that ofthe stool. rEhe type adhering to the moving side of the mold is loosened by being drawn against the stool, and the jet is likewise loosened by its sprue being drawn against the discharger. j

Having given in. detail a description of the parts ofthe machine, it will be proper to add some remarks upon their combined action during the process of casting. The fuel intended for this kind of furnace is bituminous or char coal. The temperaturev ofthe metalfshould be ascertained to be in a proper state which is necessary to insure regularity in the working of the machine, and cannot be known without some practice. Having placed a matrix in the mold and adjusted the movable half snugly against it, the thumb screw of the mold-hinge is then tightened to secure it in this position. The mold-rod being placed in its socket, the mold is then ready for casting. One half turn of the crank lowers the mold down upon the spoutand lets the piston descend by the wheelcam before described, passing from under the lever. The metal is suddenly injected into the mold, while, the revolution of the crank cont-inning, the wheel-cani again raises the pump-lever to rest upon its periphery. The mold then rises, the ovaling-cam having allowed it to remain down upon the spout at rest .nearly half a revolution of the crank. Thus it will be observed that the mold and pump act only at intervals and almost similitaneously by the particular formation of the cams, while the motion of the crank is constant and continuous. The opening ofthe mold and the discharging of the type is going forward in the rising of the mold from the spout, so that, one halt' the revolution of the crank the mold 4 eee is at rest and the other rising, opening, and discharging, andagain closing and lowering, which movements of the mold are all going forward at the same time.

The following dimensions of some of the principal parts will enable a workman to make a machine, and the drawings may be considered sufficiently correct in their relative proportions to guide him in its general construe tion: Bed-plate A, about twenty-two inches square; furnace B, seven inches square at top, rather smaller at bottom, depth six inches; kettle, ve and a half inches square at top, two and a half at bottom', and threeinches deep; mold-arm H, thirteen inches long, breadth at hinge, seven and a half inches; length of transverse limb, five and a-half inches; large cam, four and a-half inches by three in breadth; wheel-earn s, two inches in diameter.

The parts of the before-described machine which I claim by right of original invention are, viz:

1. The cylindrical cover or cap P tothe end of the pipe ofthe pump, whereby all leakage is carried back into the kettle and the air suf- I fered to escape. Y

2. The oblique direction or angle of the pipe T of'the pump, its bore passing down into the pump-chamber at or about an angle of fortyive degrees with the surface of the duid metal, by which means the metal is driven in a straight line from the bottom of the pump-chamber into the mold.

3. The position of the mold upon the end of the arm, it being` transverse to the length of the arm H and parallel to its axis, also the mold-hinge r, with its adjusting-arms g g, the cylindrical slide passing through it at arightangle with its centers or axis.

4. The manner of opening and closing the mold and tilting the matrix by the rods X and Z, before described.

5. The axisplate a a, by which means the arm H can be adjusted properly over the spout P.

6. The combination and arrangement of the parts, in the manner before described, to effect the purpose of casting printing-types by machinery.

DAVID BRUCE, JR.

Witnesses:

J oHN BRUCE, EZEKIEL RoBINs. 

